Destiny Christian Academy offers small classes, strong values

Shelly Jones organizes her classroom for the upcoming school year. BY MELISSA STEELE

A newly opened Christian school in Lewes offers families a new choice for children, from pre-K to sixth-grade.

Destiny Christian Academy, set behind Trinity Faith Christian Church on New Road, opened a year ago in the church facility, but it now has its own space. The school has seven classrooms and could serve a total of 70 students. Lunch will be served in the church fellowship hall, and a recreational building stands next door.

“Opening a school has been part of the vision of the ministry,” said the Rev. Arthur Jones of Trinity Faith Christian Church and one of the founders of the school.

He said Destiny is an interdenominational Christian school and everyone is welcome.

Teacher Shelly Jones said the school opened last year with seven students; so far, that many have enrolled for the upcoming school year. Classroom size is small; Jones said the school intends to keep a 10:1 ratio of students to teachers.

This is particularly beneficial for a student who struggles in a large classroom and needs a smaller, individualized school setting, she said.

“We all have the mindset of making things happen,” Shelly Jones said.

Throughout the school year, students study the Bible, English, spelling, science, history, math, reading and handwriting.

The Lewes location, close to the historic downtown and the University of Delaware Marine Studies campus, provides an opportunity for nearby field trips where students can learn about local history and science within their own communities.

“It's a ministry giving back to the community,” Arthur Jones said. “The church is supposed to find the needs of the community and meet those needs.”

Helping with the new school are two well-known former Cape Henlopen educators, Esthelda Parker Selby and Janet Maull-Martin. Parker Selby said her involvement is on the administrative end, while Maull-Martin will help with curriculum development and teach related arts.

Destiny Christian Academy's school year is comparable to Cape Henlopen's, with classes starting date the day after Labor Day. The school day runs from 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.; tuition is $4,100 for the year.

“Christian teachers are found in both private and public schools, but they are limited by the mandates of education to keep God out of our educational process,” Shelly said. “We want to offer an alternative to the families who seek to have Christian values and character openly spoke of and taught all throughout the school day, which benefits everyone overall.”

The school will hold two open houses from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, and Monday, Aug. 25 at its Lewes location, 15516 New Road.